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Roberts itching to play in SA

Thu, 03 Apr 2014 09:14

Jamie Roberts' career will come full circle when he travels to South Africa in June, returning to where he made his debut in 2008.

This time he will be facing the Springboks with 58 Wales caps and two Lions tours to his name.

The Springboks host the traveling Welsh in two Test matches on June 14 in Durban and June 21 in Nelspruit.

"It is a great place to play rugby, a country who are passionate about the game, I have been fortunate to have toured there with my school, with the Blues, with Wales and the Lions," The 27-year-ols centre said.

"It is a great rugby nation, but a pretty unforgiving place as well, as we found in 2008.

"They are one of the top sides in the world, but it is a tour the boys are looking forward to."

While Gatland has concerns over his Wales-based players and their potential lack of rugby leading up to the two Tests against the Springboks, he may have not to worry about Roberts and his other two Lions currently residing in the suburbs of Paris.

Last weekend's 32-22 victory over Stade Francais in the Parisian derby has lifted Racing Metro into fifth place in the Top 14 table and in firm contention for the end-of-season play-offs.

Roberts missed the early months of the season, with ankle and knee injuries restricting his appearances for his new club.

But after an impressive Six Nations Roberts has returned to help fire Racing into a position where they have become dark horses to challenge the likes of Clermont and Toulon for Le Championnat.

"At the start of the season, there were a lot of new faces, new coaches and we did struggle, but there is a real buzz about the place at the moment and hopefully we can keep it going and challenge for the title," he added.